Electric switch



Feb. 16, 1937.

W. R PRICE ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed June 10, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jlttomeqs W. R. PRICE ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed June 10, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 16, 1937.

nA ld v Inventor Walfev '[)rce utilizing 'the fulcrums Patented F eb. l 6, l 937 UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE v `walnn1uli lass seriai'lllznsaz' Appucmm. zoo-54.)

My invention relates to electric switches and has for an'obje'ct to provide a switch by means of which timedvoperation of the switch can lbe procured.

. Another object of the invention resides in providing a switch-in which the timingA can be readily varied.

Another object of the invention residesin prowhich cannot be intentionally or accidentally stalled in closing position.

Astill iurtherobject oi the invention resides in providing a switch of the invention resides in Another object of having Ytwin fulcrums and providing a switch invsupporting said runway in a manner to teeteron said fulcrums.

A feature of the invention resides in constructing the switch so as to cause Aoperation oi'l the switch means thereof when the runway is carried by both of the fulcrums.

Another object of the invention jresides in the runway or forming a part thereof for connecting said contacts together when the runway is supported by both ofthe fulcrums.

Another object of the invention resides in the specinc actuating mechanism for operating the A'feature of the invention resides in the construction for guiding the runway i'or teetering movement with respect to the iulciums.

Other objects oi' the invention reside in -the novell combination and arrangement 'oiparts and in the details of construction hereinatte illustrated and/orfdescri Inthe drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective viewof a. portion oi' a door and door casing illustrating an embodiment oi' my invention applied thereto'.

2 is a sectional view taken on line'2-2 of to Fig. 2 'showing the .Fig. 4 is aview similar to Figs. 2 and 3 show'- .Fig.1.,

' FigL 3- is aview similar Darts in altered position.

ing the parts in still other positions.

AFig. 5 is a plan view -of the structure shown in Fig. 3 with a part of the cover removed.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5. I

Fig. 'I is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modii'cation oi'. the invention. i

the nature described- .utilizing al runway having afgravitating body ,traveling lalong the same for procuring the tim- -ing ofthe switch as contacts and vin pro- `vidlng a. connecter member either carried by Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of the structure shown in Fig.'7.

Fig. 9 is a view similar .to Fig. 4 of the structure shown in Fig. 7. r v t Fig. l0 is a plan sectional view similar to 5 Fig. 5 of the formof the .inventionshown in Fig.. '1.

Fig. 11 is a cross II-II ci' Fig.8.

My invention embodies an electric switch 1o which may be used for a number of rdiil'erent purposes. In order to illustrate the application of the invention the switch has been shown as applied to a door casingfor the purpose of controlling a circuit having a bell o r lamp indicatl5 ing the opening and closing of the door and the construction thereofhas been designed to adapt it to this particular use.

In Fig. 1 a portion of a swinging ,door I0 has been shown which. is movable into and out of a o door framel II. 'Ihe door iframe II includes a `casing I2 provided with a. header I3 at the up-l permost portion of the same. The invention propenis attached to the header I3 as will be presently described in detail.

My invention proper comprises a mounting indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral This mounting consists of a .body I5 constructed of a block of insulating material such sectional view taken on line.

as wood, fibre, or any of the phenol formaldehyde 30 'will be presently described. 0

4 The body I5 4of mounting I4 has attached to it a band 22 of metal which is formed with a reach 24 extending across the upper portion of said body and serving as a cover for closing the channel I8. The said band is constructed with 45.

other reaches 25, 26, 21 and 28 which cover the I end wall I9, the V-shaped portion 22 and the end wall 2li of said body. "I'he extreme ends 3l and 32 of this band are riveted together by means oi rivets 33 and said portions `are con- 50 structed to form a hinge leaf. This hinge leaf terminates at its end in an eye 34. Eye- 34. has a pintle'35 extending through it by means l of which theinounting I4 is pivoted to permit of rocking or tilting of the same as will be here- 55 inafter more fully described. The band 23 is secured to the body I by means of wood screws 30 which extend through the reaches 26 and 21 of said band and are screwed into the portion 5 22 of said body.

The mounting I4 isv attached to a bracket 36 which is constructed with a leg 31 overlying the outer surface of the header I3 of casing I2 and with another leg 38 extending outwardly therefrom. Leg 31 is attached'to said header I3 by means of screws 42 which extend through said leg and are screwed directly into the casing proper. Integral with the leg 31 are two braces 39 which are constructed with ears 4I overlying the leg 38. These ears hold the structure in position. Pintle extends through the two braces 39 and t serves to pivot the-mounting I4 with respect to bracket 36. The leg 38. serves as a stop which `engages -hinge leaf 48 and limits the downward movement of the mounting I4 which is shown in its lowermost position in Fig. 2.

Within the channel I6 is disposed a glass tube 43 which is attached to a connecter bar 44 byl means of spring clips 45 integral therewith. The clips 45 grip the said tube as shown in Fig. 6 and hold the said tube rigidly secured to the connecter 44. "I'he tube 43 contains a body of mercury 46 which is adapted to gravitate from one end 41 30 of the tube to the other end 48 thereof and vice tion of the tube.

The tube 43 is supported in a manner to teeter within the channel I6 on two fulcrums 51 and 58 which are constructed as bolts. These bolts extend through slots 49 in the side walls I1 and I8 of the mounting I4 and are held in position with respect to said slots by means of nuts 5I and washers 52 and 53 mounted on said bolts. The fulcrums 51 and 58 overlie the bottom 2'I of the 4o channel I6 and may be slid along said slots and occupy any relative position with respect thereto.

The connecter 44 rests upon either or both of the fulcrums 51 and 58 depending upon the direction of inclination of the channel I6 and the position 45 of the mercury within the tube 43.

The tworeaches 28 and 21 of the band 23 provide two cam surfaces which are adapted to en gage the upper corners` of the door .I0 when the same is moved either into opening or closing position as the case may be and function to cause the tilting of the mounting I4.

vThe operation of the device is as follows: When the door is `closed as shown in Fig. 2, mounting I4 is tilted so that the wall I8 thereof is lower- 55 most. In this position the body 46 of mercuryv is Y disposed in the end 41 of tube 48 and the connecter bar v44 rests on fulcrum 51 only. The relative positions of the parts are shown in Fig. 2. When thedoor is opened the upper` corner of the same engages the reach 21 of band 23'which, as pre- 'viously stated, acts as a cam and movemeutof the door to the positionv shown-in Fig. 3 causes the mounting I4 to swing upwardly. When the said mounting is in horizontal position, tube 43 still remains inclined with the end 41 thereofat the lowermost portion ot vthe tube. Not until the mounting reaches the position shown in Fig. 3 `will the vtube 43 become horizontal. When the tube 48 first reaches horizontal positiomthe same tov mounting I4 as it hadin the position shown in Fig. 2. When in such position the mercury commences to flow from the end 41 thereof tothe end 48. As soon as the mercury passesfulcmm i1, tube 4l teeters on' slid fulcrui so that the end versa, depending upon the direction of inclina-l occupiesthesame relativelposition with respect.

48 thereof drops. This continues until bar 44 engages fulcrum 58. At the intermediate position of the tube shown in full lines in Fig. 3. the connecter bar 44 rests on both of the fulcrums 51 and 58. While thisroccurs a circuit is completed 5 through the said fulcrums which serve as contacts and the bell or other signal connected to said contacts is energized. As soon as the mercury passes fulcrum 58 the tube shifts and te'eters on fulcrum 58 instead of fulcrum 51, being 10 lifted from the fulcrum 51. When this occurs, the circuit is again broken and the tube 43 with the mercury therein then remains in the relative position with respect to mounting I4, shown in Fig.

4. Further movement of the door raises the l5 mounting I4 upwardly until the hump 59 of the band 23 rests on the upper edge ofthe door, as shown in Fig. 4. Such added movement of the door and mounting does not alter the position of the tube 43 with respect to the mounting and the circuit still remains open. When the door is opened still further the mounting I4 cornmences `to swing downwardly. When a position is reached which is the reverse of that shown in Fig. 3 the tube 45 again becomes level, the mer- 25 cury in the end 48 thereof commences to ow toward the end 41 and the tube 43 again alter nately teeters on fulcrums 58 and 51 closing the circuit through the contacts formed thereby. f' When the mercury passes fulcrum 51, the tube" 30 teeters solely on fulcrum 51 and raises from fulcrum 58 thereby breaking the circuit through the two contacts. It will thus be seen that the circuit is opened and closed twice during the opening of the door. When the door is closed-the 35 movements of the mounting are reversed and thel switch is again successively closed twice the same as when thedoor is opened. Y

If the length of time that the signal is to be operated and the circuit closed is desired to be 40 varied, the same may beaccomplished by loosening the nuts 5I and shifting the fulcrums 51 and 58 within the slots 49 and thereafter tightening the said nuts.

In the installation of the invention as shown 45 in Figq3, the switch has been arranged to give two signals upon the opening'or closing of the It can be readily comprehended, however, that the switch may be arranged to normally vassume the position sho`wn in Fig. 4; when the door is closed and to reach the position shown in Fig. 2, when the door is opened. In such case a single signal is given for each movement of the door. This result can be accomplished by attaching a bracket to the door at the level of the upper portion of the door which engages the hump 59 when the door is closed and which leaves the said hump when the door is opened.

In Figs. I to l1 I have shown a modification of the invention in which a'metal ball is -used 80 in place -of the body of mercury forprocuring operation of the runway. The mounting and support therefor being identical with that 'shown in Figs. 1 tof"6. will not be described again and the same rei'erence numerals will be-used to indi- M5' cate the corresponding parts.

this form of the invention a connecter bar- 6I is used in place of the tube 43. 'I'his connecter bar 8| is constructed of a'length substantially Vequal to the distance between the end walls I3 70 and 20 and of a width substantially equal to the distance vbetween -theside walls I1 and I8 and ,is provided with upturned ends 62 and 48. A metal bali 84 .is used in 'place of' the body oi.' mercury 48 and ridesupon the connecter bar 8| 75 8, ball M rolls along :the connecter bar or the runway il and causes the said connecter bar to engage both fulcrums l1 and B8. thereby closing the circuit. 'Ihe ball thereafter continues to roll until it engages the upturned end I3. As soon 'as the ball passes tulcrum Il the connecter bar 6iA teeters on fulcrum 58 and raises from fulcrum 51, thereby opening the circuit. The parts are then` disposed in the same relative positions as shown in Fig. 9 in which the mounting in extreme uppermost position.

My invention is extremely in that a. simple and practical device is provided,

Iwhereby a definite predetermined operation of the switch can be had'regardless of the manner of operating the vactuating member therefor. When the switch is used in conjunction with a door, the switch can be made to operate a signal for a predetermined length of time and the signals then terminated regardless of how the door is operated and whether "or not the door is left fully open or partly two signals are given with either the opening or closing of the door so that thev attendant can ascertain whether or not the door is merely aiar or is open to a greater extent, and whether or not the doorhas beenpartly closed o rhasbeenentirely closed. There are no intricateor complicated parts to getoutoi' order and the device may be constructed at a r the spirit of my invention.

when the rimway open. With my invention having registerl 3 member when said member is carried by both of said fulcrums, means for causing said member to teeter, and means for holding said bolts-1n adjmted position within said slots.

2. An electric switch vcomprising a mounting constructed of insulating material and provided with side and end walls and a bottom to iorm a bottom of said channel. two bolts extending through said slots and overlying the bottom of said channel and forming spaced twin fulcrums, a runway disposed within said channel and provided with contact Ameans adapted to teeter on said fulcrums and to close a 'circuit through said rulcrmns when said runway is carried by both of said fulcrums, and a weighted body adapted to gravitate from one'end of said runway to the other for' causing said runway to teeter.

3. In an electric switch, a mounting supported for tilting movements to and fro in a vertical plane. two by said mounting, a runway. adapted to teeter on said fulcrums, said runway having contact means to clo a circuit through said fulcrums and a Weighted body adapted upon the tilting of said mounting, to gravitate from one end of said runway and continue -to the other end thereof for causing the runway to teeter, iirst on one fulcrum to 'a position supported by both, and then teeter vfurther -on the second fulcrum, whereby thecircuit through the fulcrums is momentarily closed. the interval oi' closing of such circuit depending upon the relative adjustment of said fulcrums.

' 4. In an electric switch, a mounting supported fortilting movements to and fro. in a vertical plane. two fulcrums carried by said mounting, `a nmway adapted to teeter on said fulcrums. said on onefulcrum to a position carried by andthenbyreason ofthe continuing travel ofnidbodyunderitsownmomentum to teeterfurtheron thesecond fulcrum. whereby the the fulcnnns isclosed but mois supported by both fulcrums,.

relatively adjustable fulcrums carried 

